This article is part 2 of a two-part series. Read part 1 here.
Janitronics Facility Services uses a Team Cleaning system. Cleaners are sorted into four categories of specialists who each take on fewer tasks to clean more efficiently. Accountability is built into Team Cleaning, as each specialist works from a detailed job card that lists the amount of time allotted for each task. Janitronics expects a higher level of cleaning from their employees, so they also offer competitive compensation, benefits, and training for employees who want to advance within the company.
In 1996 Janitronics renovated an 18,000 square foot building in Albany to serve as their training center. They believe that poorly trained personnel will inevitably make mistakes. Every employee learns in a simulated environment before they go out in the field. By training upfront and using specialists who each perform fewer tasks, they have reduced training time per employee by 70 percent.
“We prioritize employee training very highly,” said Regional Manager Patrick Fragomeni. “The employee delivers the service everyday. They must be proficient specialists who cover more square footage while doing fewer tasks.”
In spite of the additional cost of maintaining a training center and offering higher compensation for their employees, the return on investment is clear. According to Janitronics CEO Jim Harris, Jr., average industry turnover for operations managers is less than two years. Janitronics’ operations managers stay an average of seven years. The average customer contract for the industry is three years. Janitronics’ average contract lasts 11 years.
Fragomeni gave an example of a Fortune 50 company whose facility was just over one million square feet. The company disagreed internally as to whether they would choose Janitronics for a multi-year contract. After they hired Janitronics, the CFO who had initially opposed their hiring gave them a call.
“We prepared for a negative talk,” said Fragomeni. “When we spoke to him, he told us that he previously suffered from dust allergies. Recently, he had never felt this good at work. With the ProTeam backpack vacuum, we removed airborne contaminants, and his allergies were not nearly as bad. He ended up buying a ProTeam vacuum for his home.”
That contract saved Janitronics’ customer over one million dollars in maintenance costs.
“We have become very good at setting high-performance standards for a new contract and creating a healthy work environment for their employees,” said Fragomeni.
Practitioners of Team Cleaning pride themselves on Cleaning for Health, not just appearance. This means addressing the microscopic pollutants that threaten human health, like bacteria, pollen, and dust mites. With the number of those with asthma and allergies on the rise, this approach protects populations that are sensitive to contaminants.
“A lot of people in this industry look for aesthetics, but that is the wrong approach. We Clean for Health. We know that the backpack vacuums address airborne contamination,” said Fragomeni. He added, “I couldn’t image Team Cleaning without backpack vacuums. They have played a significant role in productivity for Team Cleaning. Probably the biggest equipment impact I’ve seen in 24 years.”
The work loading, training, cleaning techniques, and equipment choices of Team Cleaning all work together to make a cleaning operation successful. Those who attend Team Cleaning seminars, taught by Concepts4, learn how to transform their cleaning. It is a detailed and tested system designed to be sustainable for years to come.
“The cost of Team Cleaning is all up front,” said Fragomeni. “But once you implement it, you reap the benefits forever.”
Watch a video about how Team Cleaning works here.
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